26/07/04 - Oyez oyez for Broughton Fair

On Sunday 1 August 2004, at 12 noon, the picturesque village of Broughton in Furness will witness the Annual Proclamation of the Fair. 

In their capacity as Lords of the Manor of Broughton, Cumbria County Council continues to re-enact this centuries old ceremony with traditional pomp and pageantry. The ceremony includes the "quaffing of good ale" and the scattering of pennies to children. 

The official party meets in the lounge of The Old King's Head Hotel at 11.45 a.m. it is then led to the obelisk in the Village Square by the Bailiff, Mr Jos Curwen, who carries the ceremonial halberd. 

From the steps of the obelisk, county councillor Oliver Pearson will introduce the proceedings, and county councillor Jim Webster, Chairman of Cumbria County Council, will read the Proclamation to the assembled villagers. The Proclamation will be repeated by parish councillor Mrs Lynne Burch, Chairman of the Parish Council. 

After the singing of the National Anthem, and to the delight of the local children, the ceremony continues with the scattering of new pennies by the county council Chairman and other members of the official party. 

The villagers will then be invited to return to The Old King's Head Hotel. In time-honoured fashion, they will receive Fair Cake and ale, after which County Councillor Webster will propose a toast to "The Queen, Duke of Lancaster". 

County Councillor Webster rounds off the proceedings by signing the Charter. It contains the signature of every person who has read the Proclamation since Henry Stanley, Lord Strange, 4th Earl of Derby, first proclaimed the charter in 1593.